Ohio Sires Stakes 2-year-old trotting fillies took center stage on a balmy and humid Thursday event at Scioto Downs, with a quartet of $40,000 divisions featured in round two harness racing action.
Kikimora—whose name means “a witch who leaves wet footprints in the kitchen—scored the first OSS division triumph in 1:58.1 as the 8-5 choice with Aaron Merriman at the lines. Trained and co-owned by Chris Beaver for partner Sandra Burnett of Wilmington, Ohio, this Triumphant Caviar distaff had finished second in Leg One to Globetrotting. She bested 4-5 rival Spend That Money (James MacDonald) at the wire by 2½ lengths after sitting in the two hole throughout the mile behind the Jason McGinnis-trainee, with 9-1 Delaware Ave (Ronnie Wrenn, Jr.) coming from off the pace to grab third place honors.
Kikimora is the fourth foal out of the Chip Chip Hooray mare Nessa Rose , 3, 1:57.1S ($38,829) and is a half-sister to OSS victress Evanora (by Pilgrim’s Taj) 3, 1:56.3h ($115,348); Ilianora (by Broadway Hall) 3, 1:56.2f ($56,522) and Theodora (by Stormin Normand) 2, 2:01.2h ($16,700). She now sports a bankroll of $33,100.
Trainer McGinnis sent out 1:59.4 Leg One winner Compass Rose DC in the second OSS division and the Uncle Peter lass and driver James MacDonald didn’t disappoint—using front-stepping tactics to score by 1½ lengths in a very modest 2:01. Sent off at odds of 1-5, Compass Rose DC is owned by Thestable Compass Rose DC of Guelph, ON, Canada. Two longshots finished second and third respectively: 34-1 Catwalk As (Elliott Deaton) got up for second, while 50-1 My Cousin Eileen was third for Peter Wrenn.
Bred by Steiner Stock Farm, Compass Rose DC was a $16,000 yearling purchase at the 2018 Ohio Select and has earned $40,000 in just two lifetime trips postward. She is the seventh foal out of the Andover Hall mare Pacific Legacy 2, Q2:02.3F ($13,727), with half-siblings in: Lima Playmate (by Credit Winner) 2, 1:57s ($265,755); Lima Pride (by Muscle Massive) 3, 1:56.4f ($105,746); Lima Playtime (by Credit Winner) 2, 1:59.4h ($44,390); Bosak 4, 2:00.2h ($43,038); and Pacific Pander (by Chapter Seven) 3, 1:59.4f ($13,375).
Mild 7-1 longshot Uncle Peter’s Love posted a 1:59.2 victory in the third OSS division for driver Peter Wrenn and owner/trainer Erv Miller. A daughter of Uncle Peter, this robust filly was seventh in Leg One but redeemed herself with this effort, finishing 1¾ lengths in front of 9-5 favorite Globetrotting (Anthony MacDonald), who had gone off stride prior to the start and made up a ton of ground to finish second as the 9-5 favorite. Miss Stunner was third for Chris Page as odds of 2-1.
Uncle Peter’s Love—who earned her first paycheck via this victory—is the fourth foal out of the unraced dam Love Me Two Times and is a full sister to Mystical Peter 3, 1:58.1s ($22,391) and a half-sister to Chapter Review 3, 1:54.4s ($34,537) and to Fast Love 3, 1:58h ($26,928)—both sired by Chapter Seven.
Finally, it was 9-2 Guinevere Hall who ended up in the winner’s circle in the fourth OSS division, stopping the timer in 1:59 with Peter Wrenn at the lines once again. Trained by Melanie Wrenn for the M T Pockets Stables of Pompano Beach, FL and David McDuffeee of Delray Beach, FL, this Cash Hall lass upped her career earnings to $24,800—having finished a solid third in OSS Leg One. She was able to hold off the hard-trying 11-1 Hometown Honey (Tyler Smith) who came flying late from the back of the pack, while 20-1 Evita was third for Ronnie Wrenn, Jr.
Guinevere Hall is the seventh foal out of the unraced Lindy Lane mare Garbo Hall and is a half-sister to the gelding Godspell Hall (by Conway Hall) 3, 1:55.4 ($33,700).
Ohio Sires Stakes continue tonight at Scioto Downs with three $40,000 divisions for 2-year-old pacing fillies and two $50,000 divisions for 3-year-old trotting colts.
by Kimberly Rinker
Ohio Standardbred Development Fund Administrator